The acquisition by the company's digital arm, Ascend Commerce, will complement its online shopping WeMall platform and develop Thailand's digital economy as the e-commerce market grows amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, chief executive Suphachai Chearavanont said in a statement.

WeMall competes with Alibaba's Lazada, Sea's Shopee and JD Central, a joint venture between top retailers, Central Group and JD.com.

Thailand is well-known for online shoppers buying directly from merchants through social media platforms like Instagram.

"Chilindo's plan to enter the international e-commerce market will increase the ability of Thai e-commerce brands to compete on an international level," Suphachai added as telecommunication operators roll out 5G technology.

CP Group owns Thailand's second-largest telco operator, True Corporation, which won 5G licenses in February.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Robert Birsel)